Where is the GOP's Courage?

If you haven't heard about the meeting between Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, then you must not have been on the planet Earth on February 28, 2025. The shock waves are still being felt after what many observers of the meeting call an ambush and berating of Zelenskyy by Trump and Vance.

News outlets report the sudden blowup between the presidents was the most heated public exchange of words between world leaders in the Oval Office in memory and the encounter left the future of the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, and Kyiv’s ability to defend itself in the brutal conflict with Russia, in mortal jeopardy. Social media was a-twitter with comments of being embarrassed by the exchange to utter shock and disgust. Oh, Yeah, there was also SUPPORT for Trump reaming President Zelenskyy and asking him to leave the White House.

I happen to be of the view that the meeting has destroyed America's standing with other nations. If the president will treat a dignitary from another country in such a humiliating way, he will possibly treat other dignitaries the same. No matter what the meeting was about, how a president treats a person matters. The WORLD is watching and there are others who believe they are just a BIG of a to-do as Trump believes he is and WON'T be bullied by him or talked down to.

America is holding their breath waiting for the GOP to speak out against Trump's behavior. Are you blue in the face yet? You will be waiting for the Right to speak out against Trump because he will do to them what he did to Zelenskyy. Your wait will be a long one because the GOP lacks ONE certain thing to be able to speak up about Trump's destructive antics. What they lack is COURAGE.

The definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. A simple definition and not the words I would have guessed. But it sums up why not everyone has it. You have to DO something even when you are shaking with fear. Republicans have one part of this two-part solution. They are frightened. Now they need to be able to do SOMETHING. Not just ANYTHING but the RIGHT thing and stop supporting President Trump and his alignment with Putin, gutting federal jobs, turning against allies, and IGNORING the outcry of the public. Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in battle.

Most philosophers and psychologists agree that courage involves persistence in danger or hardship. However, some argue that courage is synonymous with fearlessness, while others suggest that the presence or the absence of fear has nothing to do with courage. Trump's few days in office, under 100, have proven to be a persistent danger or hardship for a majority of Americans. Republicans face a barrage of frustration and anger from constituents questioning Mr. Trump's agenda and his tactics at town hall meetings. Their answer to the outrage is Democrats use plants to disrupt the meetings. They dismiss what their voters are saying and refuse to acknowledge dissatisfaction with Trump exists. Why? Because it would take COURAGE for them to take the message of dissatisfaction with Trump back to Trump. They LACK that courage.

Republicans have been known to wear their Christianity like a badge of honor and go as far to say Democrats are anti-God. Their religion and God have something to say about courage. In the Bible, God commands people to "fear not", "be of good cheer", and to "have courage." Having courage is part of the long history of Christianity. Jesus demonstrated courage in the face of death his ENTIRE life. He taught what was unpopular such as not to want material wealth, do not mistreat the poor, widow, or orphan, treat your neighbor as yourself, love everyone including your enemy, don't treat people differently based on status, and to beware of religious HYPOCRITS. There are seven woes or stark warnings and repercussions for hypocrites in the Bible found in Matthew 23.

The GOP feigns that Trump is doing everything correctly. They stand firmly one hundred percent behind his actions and decisions. Even if that was true, (there are rumors of their discontent behind closed doors) it is not what the majority of Americans are voicing right now. They are supposed to work for the PEOPLE and not for Trump.

After watching the encounter between President Trump and President Zelenskyy, it seems it would be difficult for anyone to say that is how Americans want to be represented. But the Right believed President Trump showed strength and power. When you have strength and power you don't have to display it. They turned an ally seeking help for his country at war into a beggar for assistance. Even if Americans don't want to support Ukraine's war financially, no one should want to humiliate someone asking for help. Kindness and dignity towards others on the world stage is what America has been known for regardless of what we are doing. Our reputation has been shattered.

America has been known as a superpower for decades. Trump is not MAKING us into a superpower all of a sudden as his followers believe. Nations have revered and feared us for the longest time. Now they fear us but for a different reason. They fear us because we can no longer be TRUSTED. Heck, we don't trust ourselves. We don't trust ourselves because a large swatch of us don't have the COURAGE to do what is right when needed anymore. Americans once had the courage to do what was right even when the rest of the world was doing wrong like we did with Hitler. Remember him and his rise to power? Many believe we are headed that way with our OWN Hitler. Just saying.

What I do know is that Christianity and courage go hand-in-hand. If Republicans wear Christianity with pride, they should also have the courage that comes along with it. I'm not saying all Republicans are bad or wrong. What I am saying is they are ignoring the concerns of the voters during the mass firings adding to unemployment, and the possibly newly created need for financial federal assistance of those fired, while there are cutting federal assistance. Calling people lazy for needing help then firing them so they need help makes no sense. The Trump administration seems to have a problem with PEOPLE IN NEED and the GOP remains silent. The poor or those in need have never been so publicly SCORNED before.

As always, I will leave you with what the Bible says about courage. It is what Christians should strive for in their daily lives. To be able to stand for what's right even when it's unpopular or can lead to less than desired outcomes. Doing what is right takes courage. I hope the GOP will be like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz and realize his courage was always there and once he knew that - he was confident to USE it.

Examples of spiritual courage: 

Standing up for what you believe, even if it means being rejected or facing harm

Making sacrifices

Being "dangerously unselfish"

Doing what's necessary despite difficulty or danger.

Bible verses about courage

• Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you"
• Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" 
• Isaiah 41:10: "Fear not, for I am with you" 
• 1 Corinthians 16:13: "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" 
• 1 Chronicles 28:20: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" 

Seven Woes

Wolf In Sheep's Clothing (Donald Trump)

A question on people's mind as they watch the chaos of the current administration is, "How can evil be accepted as good by so many?" They also wonder, "How can lies be seen as truth?" When trying to answer a question we tend to dig deep and try to come up with some kind of profound answer. In reality, we can look to the simplicity of childhood to answer the seemingly unanswerable. 

A majority of people are familiar with the children's story about the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, an Aesop's fable. In the story, a wolf disguises himself as a sheep and the shepherd kills him. The story is an example of a fable, which is a story with a hidden lesson. The idiom "wolf in sheep's clothing" is used to describe someone who seems friendly but may be harmful. In the Bible, Matthew 7:15, Jesus warns against "false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves".

The phrase "Wolf in sheep's clothing" is an idiom that refers to someone who appears friendly or harmless on the surface, but in reality, they have a sinister or malicious nature. They hide their true intent from others. With Donald Trump entering the third week of his presidency, many are coming to the conclusion that he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. But that is not true for everyone who voted for him. At a first look, Trump's proverbial "sheep's clothing" was Christianity, and he wore it amongst the Evangelicals. Those outside of the Evangelical faith seemed to notice his wolf tendencies.

Donald Trump has lived his entire life in the headlines. He has been known as a mover and shaker in the business world. There is very little about his life that has not been written about and expounded on by Trump himself in hundreds of interviews. Donald Trump loves to talk about Donald Trump. If you comb through all of the magazine and tabloid articles, you will not read about Trump as a Christian, that is, until he wanted to become president.

Donald Trump was raised in his mother's Presbyterian faith; his father was a Lutheran. He attended Sunday school and was confirmed in 1959 at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica. He said in 2015 that he attends Marble Collegiate Church, a Reformed Christian congregation in Manhattan; the church said in a statement to CNN that he "is not an active member". He said that he was a Presbyterian and a Protestant in 2016. Trump has officially run as a candidate for president four times, in 2000, 2016, 2020, and 2024; he also unofficially campaigned in 2012 and mulled a run in 2004.

A survey during Trump's first presidency showed that 63% of Americans did not believe he was religious, despite his professed Christian affiliation, and that only 44% of Americans believed that Trump was a Christian. But according to research data on the 2024 election, Trump's victory was largely due to the Christian vote. According to exit polling data from NBC, Trump expanded his margins for Christians identifying as “Protestant or other Christian” and Catholic. Of voters identifying as “Protestant or other Christian,” 63% went for Trump and 36% went for Harris. Trump made a bigger jump with Catholic voters against Harris, who is a Baptist. Exit polling shows Catholic voters broke for Trump by 58% to 40% for Harris. 

A majority of white Christians supported Trump in 2024, just as they did in 2020. White Christians identifying as “Protestant and other Christian” went for Trump 72% to 26%; in 2020 they supported Trump by 72% to 27%. White Catholics supported the Republican ticket 61% to 35% in 2024. In 2024, white born-again and evangelical Christians made up 27% of the electorate and voted for Trump 82% to 17% for Harris. A presidential candidate, identifying as a Christian, would have a large voting base. How easy is it for someone to IDENTIFY as a Christian and BLEND in and become like a Christian?

Evangelicals say they support Trump because of his stance against abortion and Transgender Rights. They believe his political platform aligns with their Christian faith. They fully embrace Trump's slogan of Make America Great Again, a time when the family unit mattered, and society's morals were more palatable. Or at least, this is what they say publicly. But many researchers say the same thing that motivates secular people motivate religious people and that is POWER. White Evangelicals are fearful their power is slipping away. How you may ask. The answer is right before your eyes.

Public Religion Research Institute found that America is not only becoming less white, but also less Christian. As we came to the end of the 2010s, Robert P. Jones, CEO of PRRI, reported that only 42% of Americans identify as white and Christian. Such demographic shifts have produced great trepidation on the part of many white evangelicals. Trump has capitalized on white evangelicals’ fear of losing power and prominence in an increasingly diverse society.

The sheep's clothing Trump put on was NOT Christianity to win the Evangelical vote. Trump clothed himself in the skin of FEAR. He walked among them expressing the same fears the Evangelicals speak about. Let's use ABORTION as an example. The stance against abortion has more to do with halting the LOW birthrate of white babies, than the Bible. If Republicans cared about babies, they would not be slashing Medicaid many mothers and newborns rely on.

Abortion rates have been declining in the United States for decades. In 1981, the abortion rate was 29.3 per 1,000 women aged 15–44. In 2005, it was 19.4 and was at an historic low. A survey of women who obtained an abortion in the United States between June 2021 and July 2022 found that 26 percent were Hispanic, while 33% were white. This statistic shows the distribution of women in the U.S. But this will not increase the number of white babies born. If abortions across the board are illegal, then the Hispanic and Black population will also increase in births. This is significant since in 2022, 39.5% of abortions were performed on non-Hispanic Black women, compared to 31.9% for non-Hispanic White women.

Donald Trump's embrace of the Pro-Life cause is a win for Evangelicals, but their fear of being obsolete remains. So, what else allows the WOLF to walk among the SHEEP. The answer is RACISM.

On the public stage Trump has not hidden his racism towards almost every ethnic group except White people. His desire to mass deport immigrants are sweeping up people who just look Hispanic. His revocation of DEI laws closes the door to many Black people having an opportunity to have high paying jobs. Attacking DEI also affect women who work outside of the home as caregiver, something traditional Christians would like see women returned to. If White Christians don't have the NUMBER to remain relevant, then they must have the POWER at all costs, hence Donald Trump 47th president.

But you may say Trump didn't deceive them, he just gave them what they wanted. But he PRETENDED to be like them, Godly. What or who is a person willing to pretend to be Godly? What kind of person would have no FEAR misrepresenting themselves as Godly knowing it was a lie? The answer to this question is what the REST of us have to FEAR. A person who has no boundaries to what they are willing to do to achieve their OWN power is a major THREAT. I know you're saying I can't say Donald Trump is not a Christian. Are you sure about that because the Bible says differently.

"Ye shall know them by their fruit. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" (Matthew 7:16-20). Fruits, which are a common metaphor in both the Old and New Testaments, represent the outward manifestation of a person's faith, thus their behavior and their works. Evangelicals tell us to OVERLOOK Trump's character and his offensive behavior. Not biblical at all.

Romans 16:17-19, "I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their OWN appetites. By smooth TALK and FLATTERY, they deceive the MINDS of NAIVE people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

Trump is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I do not believe he has revealed his TRUE nature yet. We don't know who is under the sheep's skin. With the U.S. no longer siding with the UN and being the leader of the free world, Trump's deception on the American people has not been exposed yet. 

For those who did not vote for Trump, they believe they have not been deceived. They are not as shocked by Trump's actions since being in the White House. But in a sense, we were all fooled. We believed no one would DEFILE the highest office of one of the greatest countries. Yet, here we are. We let our guard down on our freedom and supremacy on the world stage. We didn't believe a WOLF would walk among us without SOMEONE protecting the sheep. We believed, at least, one of the sheep would sound the ALARM for all of the other sheep to protect themselves.

Well, we had sheep sounding the alarm, but other sheep stepped up to PROTECT the wolf. Let's look at another little story, The Scorpion and the Frog, so simple even a child can understand it. It will be my final thoughts about Donald Trump.

• The fable is about a frog who carries a scorpion across a river. The scorpion stings the frog, even though it's against the scorpion's own interests.
• The scorpion explains that he couldn't resist because it was in his nature. 
• The fable teaches us to know someone at their core and make judgments based on that. 
• It also teaches us to be cautious of those who have a history of harmful behavior, as they may be likely to repeat it.

The Big Pay Back: REVENGE

Since Donald Trump has taken office, it seems we live in an atmosphere of hoping people get what they deserve and not in a good way. Retribution and vengeance, or the BIG PAY BACK, is awaited. Promises of ending government overspending of taxpayer's money are in full affect with thousands of people being fired from federal jobs. As people are being fired without discretion, there is a deep hope those doing the firing meet a horrible fate. For Trump that would be impeachment and for Elon Musk, deportation.

Take Luigi Mangioni, a young man people have found handsome, is accused of killing Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare allegedly because of how insurance companies deny people much needed health insurance. He is experiencing an enormous amount of public support with people advocating for his release. People are on the side of the accused murderer because they believe the CEO and other CEO's are mistreating people in the name of greed. They believe the CEO deserved what he got. During Mangione's court appearance, there were large groups of people outside chanting "Free Luigi!" A fundraiser for legal expenses for Mr. Mangione - an Ivy League-educated member of a prominent Baltimore family - has raised over half a million dollars since his arrest.

An enormous image of Luigi Mangioni covered a building in Manhattan ahead of his upcoming court hearing Friday. The image reads “Free Luigi” and depicts Mangione as a saintly or Christ-like figure touching a heart at the center of his chest with a halo around his head.

As a Christian who is engaged in politics, I have advocated for a more Christian attitude towards the political madness. I often quote the Bible verse, "be angry and sin not" which appears in Ephesians 4:26, and continues, "do not let the sun go down on your anger". Anger is okay but what ACTIONS you put WITH your anger can get you into trouble (do I sound like a broken record?). The Bible advocates for the Christian to DEAL with what is making them angry and to have it reconciled before they go to sleep at the end of the day. 

Can public support for what is viewed as a crime be accepted in the case of Mangioni? Good luck with that in this political chaos where wrong is right, right? Things are so backwards nowadays who can say.

People's emotions want pay back but there are no exceptions to the rule of law and where the Bible is concerned. If you are angry about something, anything, you MUST not let it make you sin. Unresolved anger LEADS to sin. It OPENS the door to un-Christian behavior. Then I thought, wait a minute, what about the large book of Psalms in the Bible, is this the exception? It is nothing but prayers for bad things to happen to David's enemies. David was hand selected by God to be the second king of Israel, something the first king, Saul, was not on board with and pretty much hunted David to kill him.

Psalms is a book of praise but the prayers for harm to an enemy are vicious. It is a book about "an eye for an eye". "An eye for an eye" in Hebrew which the Old Testament is written in, is translated as "עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן" (pronounced as "ayin tahat ayin" or as I say, THE BIG PAY BACK. No words or imagery is spared in how painful David wants the pay back to be. When Christians are mad, they WANT to be a David in their prayers.

In the Bible, David prays for his enemies to die in Psalms 3, 55, 35, 59, and 71. He asks God to defeat, humble, and judge his enemies because they are evil. 

• Psalm 55:15: David asks God to defeat his enemies and take them to the land of death. 
• Psalm 3:7: David asks God to strike his enemies on the cheek and break their teeth. 
• Psalm 35:8: David asks God to destroy his enemies by making them suffer the same fate they tried to bring to him. 
• Psalm 71: David asks God to confound, consume, and cover his enemies with reproach. 
• Psalm 59: David asks God to consume his enemies in wrath until they are no more.

In the New Testament we see this same idea of "an eye for an eye" as the law of exact retaliation. The law of exact retaliation (Latin: lex talionis), or reciprocal justice, bears the same principle that a person who has injured another person is to be penalized to a similar degree by the injured party. In softer interpretations, it means the victim receives the [estimated] value of the injury in compensation. The intent behind the principle was to restrict compensation to the value of the loss.

It is human nature for a person to want justice when they have been wronged, but it is not lawful to take matters of retribution into our own hands in most cases. Well, what about David you say? David did NOT do any of the "eye for an eye." he prayed to God and left it in God's hands because he knew ALL of God's word. When David had a chance to kill King Saul, he didn't do it (1 Samuel 24). In Proverbs 20:22 (the book of wisdom) it says, "Do not say, 'I’ll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you." VENGENCE BELONGS to the Lord.

In the New Testament, which is the guide for the modern-day Christian, Romans 2:6 says, God “will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." Romans 12:19-21, "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good."

I know I've ruined being angry for you. I'm sorry. But it had to be done because the consequences of anger can cause you more harm than what someone else is doing to you. Anger can lead to stealing to get what was taken from you back which is against the law. Anger can lead to murder which is against the law. Anger, when left unmanaged, can lead to a variety of health issues including high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, headaches, digestive problems, weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, insomnia, skin conditions like eczema, and potential aggravation of existing conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal disease (GERD), of which I have all. Am I dealing with my anger? Anger is not a friend.

Social media seems to be a dumping ground for anger. People who have never met have WORDS with each other. Letting off 'angry' steam may feel good every now and then but there are people who camp out on social media spending every minute of free time engaging in angry back and forth. It is not healthy, and it is not biblical.

The Bible tells us the HEALTHY way to deal with anger which keeps us from sinning. Praying for those who wrong you to be well and even have THEIR needs met is the instruction. Praying for the wellbeing of others DISSIPATES anger INSIDE of you. WHAT is going on inside of you is what concerns God because he only wants GOOD for YOU which may LOOK different to you. In the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11 states, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

The phrase "God will see completion of good for you" is essentially referencing the Bible verse Philippians 1:6, which states "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.". This means that God will not only start good things in your life but will also ensure they are brought to fruition and fully completed."

Knowing the Bible and the nature of God allows you to release anger with peaceful faith that God sees and knows all and will handle things and people as he sees fit. This is not to say we let lawlessness and injustice have free reign. No. It is to say to know your part in the equation. We are not to support evil, and we are not to MATCH evil with EVIL. In the Old Testament David prayed for God to be ruthless when dealing with his enemies. In the New Testament, the Christian is shown another way. It's all about OUR OWN actions and our actions can be far reaching.

Waiting with bated breath for the BIG PAY BACK and becoming frustrated when it doesn't come in the way you want nor as soon as you want is living in an unhealthy space. Living in an angry state most times is done without the person you are angry with even being aware of your anger towards them or at least how deep it is. YOU are suffering and not them. Even if they do know, your anger can cause you to go down in flames with them. Don't live like that people. Have righteous anger against evil. Handle things within the law. Follow biblical principles of living. Get rid of anger daily. Trust in the Lord.  

In The World of Donald Trump, Don't Be A Judas

If you haven't noticed yet, Donald Trump's name is on the lips of people around the world. The news plays his latest declaration on a loop with the reactions of people in America and other countries. The WORLD knows Donald Trump and it appears he has the world by the tail.

For most, being internationally known is a good thing. Everyone wants their ten minutes of fame. But President Trump doesn't care whether his infamy is of adulation. Favorability is not his inspiration or motivation. He leans more towards shock and awe in his approach to governing. The ENDS to his MEANS justifies his actions. The world is a little afraid of his means (intentions), believing they center around him acquiring more power and wealth. Am I insinuating the president may be a little corrupt? Only time will tell.

So where does the analogy of Judas figure into the Trump presidency? Christians and non-Christians have a general knowledge of the biblical character named Judas Iscariot from the the Christian Bible. He is the one who betrayed Jesus causing Jesus' death. Judas is known as a betrayer of good. But if Donald Trump is not out to do GOOD, then many would advocate for a Judas (betrayer) to enter into the picture. That is because they don't understand Judas or Jesus.

Judas Iscariot, born in Judea and son of Simon and Cyborea Iscariot, was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He played a role in the apostlic ministry alongside the other disciples. However, in the Gospel of John, Judas's outlook was differentiated—many of Jesus's disciples abandoned him because of the difficulty of accepting his teachings, and Jesus asked the twelve if they would also leave him. Simon Peter spoke for the twelve: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," but Jesus observed then that although he himself had chosen the twelve, one of them (unnamed by Jesus, but identified by the narrator) was "a devil" who would betray him.

According to the account in the Gospel of John, Judas carried the disciples' money bag or box (γλωσσόκομον, glōssokomon). Matthew directly states that Judas betrayed Jesus for a bribe of "thirty pieces of silver" by identifying him with a kiss—"the kiss of Judas"—to arresting soldiers of the High Priest Caiaphas, who then turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate's's soldiers. Judas aided in Jesus' demise and not the demise of political corruption and injustices.

What is IMPORTANT to know is WHY Judas BETRAYED Jesus. One suggestion has been that Judas expected Jesus to overthrow Roman rule of Judea. In this view, Judas is a disillusioned disciple betraying Jesus not so much because he loved money, but because he loved his country and thought Jesus had failed it. Judas cared to a FAULT about his country it seems.

The political climate in Judea during Jesus' time was dangerous and volatile. Judea was part of the Roman Empire, which was an occupying force. The Jewish people were subject to Roman law and customs. There were at least five major political groups with different views on how to deal with the Roman occupation. The Zealots, which Judas has been linked to, wanted to KILL the Romans and take back Judea for the Jews. Judas wanted to remove those in charge by any means including violence and Jesus was teaching LOVE. Judas DEMANDED revolution. Jesus COMMANDED love.

Our political atmosphere is contintious. REVOLT is in the air. There are calls for protests for varying causes people feel President Trump is ignoring or damaging. Various individuals are calling for Trump's removal from office due to his overreach of power. 

It is not only Americans voicing their disapproval of Trump's use of power. Other countries are wary of his intentions. Donald Trump has shocked the world by suggesting that the US could "take over" and "own" Gaza, resettling its population in the process. The proposal has drawn condemnation, including from across the Middle East, close US allies and the United Nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, welcomed the "revolutionary vision" for Gaza. Despite fierce pushback from regional leaders, Trump has pressured Jordan and Egypt to accept Gaza's 2.2 million residents - threatening to withhold aid if they refuse. Both nations have rejected the idea, warning it could destabilise the region. Trump has said that Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza under his plan.

During a time of poilitcal corruption and overreach of power, Judas wanted an immediate resolution. He wanted ACTION! He would become labled as a ZEALOT, which is defined as a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals. His feelings and actions went against Jesus' teaching. Of course, a person should want CHANGE where change is necessary, but it is HOW you go about change that matters.

Dr. Martin Luther King is a better example of how to address those who are in power not doing the will of the people. Both “morally and practically” committed to nonviolence, King believed that “the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.” Christians must remember to act Christlike no matter what is going on around them. Judas' suffering of oppression made him forget about the command to love.

What would become of the man who felt throughout his being that governmental corruption and oppression was wrong and should be stopped by any means? Many different accounts of Judas's death have survived from antiquity, both within and outside the New Testament. Matthew 27:1-10 states that after learning that Jesus was to be crucified, Judas was overcome by remorse and attempted to return the 30 pieces of silver to the priests, but they would not accept them because they were blood money, so he threw them on the ground and left. Afterwards, he committed suicide by hanging himself in accordance with Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The guilt of his actions became too much of a weight for him to carry.

In the world of Donald Trump, don't become a Judas seeking justice by UNJUST methods. Advocate for change using lawful methods and voice your opposition in love and with votes. Educate yourself on ways to have the outcomes you want to occur. Never give up. But violence, lawlessness, vitriole, and other actions which cause more harm are not acceptable. In advocating for change, be a Jesus instead of a Judas.

Can Religion Be Legislated and Should It Be?

On February 6, 2025, Thursday morning, Trump spoke at two different events that are part of the prayer breakfast, one at the Hilton and the other in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. Trump told those in attendance, "I really believe you can't be happy without religion, without that belief," Trump said at the Capitol. "Let's bring religion back. Let's bring God back into our lives."

The president announced that he was forming a commission on religious liberty and said that later on Thursday, he would sign an executive order instructing Pam Bondi, the newly sworn-in U.S. attorney general, to combat “anti-Christian bias.” 

I'm a Christian and you would believe such a statement by my president would make me happy beyond belief. As a Christian, it is my desire that everyone know God and give their lives to him. Leading people to God and the soul saving knowledge of Jesus is part of my Christian faith. But I'm not happy. I'm worried, concerned, and fearful.

History has shown us when people are encouraged by LAW, COERSION, or by FORCE to accept the Christian faith, there is a hidden agenda, plus, it's not Biblical to mandate belief/faith in God. People have to freely DECIDE to become a follower of God which each Christian KNOWS and UNDERSTANDS as FREE WILL given to each individual by God. Each human being is allowed how they choose to live and believe.

Historical examples of religion being legislated by the Church include: the establishment of the Church of England as the state religion in England, the enforcement of religious laws in medieval Europe by the Catholic Church, including restrictions on behavior and dress codes, and the Puritan colonies in America where religious doctrine heavily influenced laws governing daily life, often leading to harsh punishments for those who deviated from strict religious practices. 

An infamous time when religion was mandated was The Spanish Inquisition, also known as "the great inquisition", a Catholic judicial system that operated in Spain from 1478 until the early 19th century. The Inquisition was used to prosecute heresy, witchcraft, blasphemy, and other crimes. Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon established the Spanish Inquisition in 1478. Estimates of the number of people who died during the Inquisition vary but are generally in the thousands or tens of thousands. 

President Thomas Jefferson strongly advocated for the separation of church and state because he believed that religious freedom was essential for a functioning republic, and that allowing the government to endorse or support a specific religion would infringe on individuals' right to freely choose their own beliefs, potentially leading to religious persecution and a lack of individual liberty; he saw this separation as a "wall" protecting the freedom of conscience and thought for all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation. 

In Matthew 8:34 we read Jesus saying, 'then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." God has told us through His prophets that we are free to choose between good and evil. In Genesis 2:16-17, God gives Adam free will. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

According to various religious beliefs, God gave humans free will to allow them to make choices and decisions, enabling them to have a genuine relationship with Him. This freedom allows humans to choose between good and evil, to grow morally, and to develop spiritually. 

So why will a mandated return to God fail? Because TURNING to God is a heart condition and any attempt to try to mandate or legislate a return to God is WRONG. All Christians should know this, including Donald Trump.

I would say to look at the AGENDA behind Trump seemingly advocating for a return to God. He said it is because of the failed assassination attempt on his life. Those are his words, but his actions do not seem Christ-like when it comes to the poor or immigrant. He is not a leader one would refer to as compassionate or merciful. People FEAR him and his VENGEFUL nature, also not Christ-like. I advise "actions speak louder than words" and to be cautious who you choose to believe and follow. It is hard to HIDE the heart. 

Yes, Jesus taught that the heart will be JUDGED, and that people's actions and attitudes will have consequences.

Bible verses

• Matthew 15:17-19: Jesus says that what comes out of a person's mouth reveals their heart.

• Matthew 15:18-20: Jesus says that evil thoughts, murder, adultery, theft, and other sins come from the heart. 

• Mark 7:20-23: Jesus says that what comes from the heart makes a person unclean. 

• Matthew 7:2: Jesus warns against judging others, emphasizing that judgment is God's prerogative. 

• 1 Corinthians 4:5: Paul says that people should wait until the Lord comes to judge them, and that he does not judge himself. (One person cannot truly know the heart of another person and should not try to).